Real collaboration calls for a change in corporate culture…

I have been involved in a number of events over the last month or so which have really brought into sharp focus the conflict between the current desire within companies for closer collaboration internally and the corporate culture itself. Knowledge has always beens the thing that is valued most by companies – whether it’s an individual’s understanding of the market, their sales skills or their insight into competitors. Being the only one with a particular piece of knowledge or skill puts you high up the value chain. By implication therefore, sharing that information reduces your value. This has stood as a fundamental law of business since business was born.

If companies truly want to embrace collaboration, and all the benefits it can bring, then they need to make some fundamental changes to the messages that they are sending employees – directly and indirectly. You cannot expect someone to share the very thing that they have always been told they should hang on to….